This is a bunch of kids that are big game players that step up in the limelight. We have a lot of mentally tough kids.

I don't even think its sunk in yet how lucky or how big this is going to be. They are just taking it in stride, and they are eating it up. It's going to be an everlasting memory for each and every one of them.

Shumaker will be our horse. He throws in the upper 60s and low 70s in big games.

It was a great place to grow up, and I had a lot of fun there. Once you start a family and move away to a bigger city, you tend to appreciate the small-town living of Ottumwa.

I think the streak can lay into our favor, because I think we're going to be overlooked. This is the best Davenport team we've had since 2000. I like our chances. If we don't come out of here at least 2-1 and don't have an opportunity to be in the elimination round, I'm going to be disappointed.

It makes you tear up a bit just to see that the kids can do something for you. There's one resident who knew that I did not have breakfast, lunch or dinner yesterday. At 10 at night, she was shoving crackers in my pocket telling me to keep my strength up as we were walking through here. I made her take them back, but they try and give back as well too.